Rosetta's Comet Blasts Its Most Dramatic Jet Yet

ESA’s Rosetta captured comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko firing its brightest jet witnessed yet by the spacecraft as they hurtle ever closer to the sun.

The sequence of images taken by Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera captured the jet-like feature ejecting material from the comet’s neck at an estimated 33 feet per second (10 meters per second).

The spacecraft's spectrometer recorded “dramatic” changes in the outpouring gases composition when the outburst occurred compared measurements taken two days prior.

A short-lived outburst captured by Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera on July 29, 2015.

"This first quick look at our measurements after the outburst is fascinating," said Kathrin Altwegg, principal investigator for the ROSINA instrument. "We also see hints of heavy organic material after the outburst that might be related to the ejected dust.

"But while it is tempting to think that we are detecting material that may have been freed from beneath the comet's surface, it is too early to say for certain that this is the case."

Exit Theatre Mode

The comet’s spectacular activity is expected to peak in the weeks surrounding its perihelion, the closest point to the sun during its 6.5-year orbit orbit. The comet and Rosetta will achieve perihelion at 116 million miles (186 million kms) from the Sun on August 13.

The perihelion phase will give scientists deeper insight into the comet as sunlight illuminates parts of the comet previously in shadow. It also allows researchers to monitor the comet’s changes as the sun's radiation radiation intensifies.

Jenna Pitcher is a freelance journalist writing for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter.